Vulnerable children ‘will not be left behind’

The Government’s new action plan for children and young people will ensure no vulnerable child is left behind, the Children’s Rights Alliance said yesterday.

Frances Fitzgerald, the children’s minister, was joined by Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore at the launch of a six-year plan outlining goals and outcomes for children and young people in Dublin Castle yesterday.

The Children’s Rights Alliance welcomed the publication, Better Outcomes Brighter Futures; the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014-2020, which commits the Government to tackling childhood obesity and food poverty.

Government departments have pledged to work together to achieve five national outcomes that are deemed important for children — health, education, protection, financial security, and participation.

Alliance chief executive Tanya Ward said the framework contained many important firsts for Ireland.

“It sets out to tackle childhood obesity, food poverty and to lift over 70,000 children out of poverty by 2020. It commits to services for child victims and aims to reduce the harm often caused by the court proceedings,” she said.

“The framework also pledges to promote child protection and welfare for children in the asylum system and tackle inequalities faced by ethnic minorities, including Travellers and Roma.”

Ms Fitzgerald said the challenge now for the Government and society was to move on from addressing the legacy of failings to promoting a culture and cross-government approach to improving outcomes for all children.

Mr Kenny said his vision and his commitment was to work to make Ireland one of the best small countries in which to grow up in and raise a family.

The framework, which contains 160 commitments, will be monitored and assessed by the Government who will report on progress annually.

It will be followed later this year by a number of documents that will provide greater detail about work in particular areas.

Among the commitments listed in the document to include children with a disability in mainstream pre-school and Early Years settings.